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Amid the encomiums showered on Chief Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit here, this was the most extravagant. The head of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, Anil Ambani, on Friday called Modi a “leader among leaders”, “the king among kings”, putting him in the same league as Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel.

“Narendrabhai has Arjuna-like clarity of vision. Narendrabhai literally is the lord of men, a leader among leaders and the king among kings,” said Anil Ambani, who sat beside Modi on the dais. “Let me attempt to paint another picture: October 2, 1869, Porbandar, Gujarat — the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the father of the nation; October 31, 1875, Nariyal, Gujarat — the birth of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s man of steel; December 28, 1932, Chorwad, Gujarat — the birth of Dhirubhai Ambani, India’s greatest entrepreneur; and September 17, 1950, Vadnagar, Gujarat — the birth of Narendra Modi,” he said.

Reliance Industries Ltd chairman Mukesh Ambani, who flanked Modi on the other side, described the CM as “a leader with a grand vision”.

Other members of India Inc as well as representatives the US, UK, Japan, Canada, China, Denmark and Taiwan also hailed Modi, while congratulating him for his election win. The sixth biennial Vibrant Gujarat summit has been partnered by Canada and Japan.

Describing Gujarat’s progress as “stunning”, Ron Somers, the president of US-India Business Council, said Modi had set a new benchmark of “progress trumps politics”. Only a handful of speakers pledged investments in their speeches though.